HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

There are still a few Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., 2010 calendars up for grabs. At the last update, there were only 48 left. They are being offered at a discounted rate to help you get these wagging tails into your home. The first calendar is $12.00, the second is $11.00, and if you purchase three, the third is $10.00 Not only do the calendars help out a great cause immediately and financially, they raise awareness throughout the year.

All of the pets pictured were either rescued from a highkill shelter when their time was “up,” or were rescued through the Puppy Promises program.

Q:  What is a Puppy Promises Puppy?

A:  A Puppy Promises puppy is a lucky pup who has been enrolled in the Puppy Promises program.

The puppies are intercepted from being dumped at the shelter, sometimes even at the shelter door!  Their owners are given another option.  If they will quarantine the pups at home for another two weeks, SSP will give them their shots on the spot.   In two or three weeks, pending they are deemed healthy by a vet, they will be transported to a reputable rescue where a family is waiting to adopt them.

As for “mom dog,”  she gets spayed after the pups are well on their way so that there are no more accidental litters.  What’s more, is that all the other adult dogs and cats at the house are spayed or neutered by SSP as well. It was noticed that the same last names and addresses would come up, and is more proactive to spay everyone than hope there will not be another litter.  Some of these families take good care of their pets, but just cannot financially handle a litter of puppies or are not allowed to have so many, and feel powerless.   On the other hand, many other families do not care what happens to the pups, but have been convinced to give Puppy Promises a try instead of the alternative (dumping pups at the shelter, drowning, leaving them to fend for themselves).

It costs $50 per puppy to save them.  This includes, but is not limited to:

Age appropriate vaccinations
Transport to rescue
The Spay of the mother dog and other family members

Q:  How Can I Order a Calendar?

It is simple.  Go to the Saving Shelter Pets homepage and click on the smiling puppy, or go directly to the calendar order form here:  http://www.yearbox.com/ssp/

I have a few relatives and friends from across the miles that are hard to buy for. I always hunt for something on the smaller side so I don’t incur severe mailing charges, and I can buy them all something similar because they are not going to run into each other. Last year it was photo keychains. Everyone loved them, but I can’t repeat myself.

This year, I am thinking of sending Saving Shelter Pets 2010 calendars. It is a great way to “catch up” because many of my friends know I am a big fan of SSP. They can read information about the group and see some of the happy faces that are grateful to be alive.  Of course it would be nice if they got involved, but even if not, a generous percentage of the calendar cost goes directly to Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., to rescue other hopeful cats and dogs, to operate the proactive Puppy Promises program, Trap Neuter and Release program and more.

To order, just follow the link from the Saving Shelter Pets homepage (http://savingshelterpets.com).  The price is $17.95 + $3.95 shipping and handling.  I believe you do get a break on shipping on multiple orders if they are going to the same address and are ordered at the same time.   Hurry and order to receive them in time for Christmas and Hannukah.

There is a blockbuster sized group of 49 puppies that wish to enroll in the Puppy Promises program that Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., offers.  Three litters are from the same household!

Q:  What is a Puppy Promises Puppy?

A:  A Puppy Promises puppy is a lucky pup who has been enrolled in the Puppy Promises program.

The puppies are intercepted from being dumped at the shelter, sometimes even at the shelter door!  Their owners are given another option.  If they will quarantine the pups at home for another two weeks, SSP will give them their shots on the spot.   In two or three weeks, pending they are deemed healthy by a vet, they will be transported to a reputable rescue where a family is waiting to adopt them.

As for “mom dog,”  she gets spayed after the pups are well on their way so that there are no more accidental litters.  What’s more, is that all the other adult dogs and cats at the house are spayed or neutered by SSP as well. It was noticed that the same last names and addresses would come up, and is more proactive to spay everyone than hope there will not be another litter.  Some of these families take good care of their pets, but just cannot financially handle a litter of puppies or are not allowed to have so many, and feel powerless.   On the other hand, many other families do not care what happens to the pups, but have been convinced to give Puppy Promises a try instead of the alternative (dumping pups at the shelter, drowning, leaving them to fend for themselves).

It costs $50 per puppy to save them.  This includes, but is not limited to:

Age appropriate vaccinations
Transport to rescue
The Spay of the mother dog and other family members

$2450 is needed for all 50 puppies. All the other adult dogs and cats in the home will be spayed to prevent more unwanted litters. It also saves the lives of other adults. The owners don’t become overwhelmed with taking care of so many, so adults are not surrendered to the shelter. They also no longer exhibit nuisance behavior such as fighting over females in heat and wandering where they could be hit by a car or become lost. Please consider donating to Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. Donations are tax deductible, and the pups, and their new adoptive families will thank you for it.

The Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., Fall Auction was a big success! The final tally is being determined, but over $1,000 will go towards helping the animals. They could not have done it if it had not been for all of you! Books, shirts, jewelry, pet supplies and even a trip will be enjoyed by lucky bidders.  There will be a package arriving at the HoundsGood household soon.  If I share what the item is, maybe I will lose all of my stealth as a bidder.  You will all know my biddder id and bid against me next time.  That wouldn’t be bad.  It would just mean more money for the animals.

Did you win something from the auction? Tell us all about it, I would love to hear about it.

I previously reported that Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., has a signed copy of John Grogan’s Marley & Me up at auction.  The high bid is at just $31.00, so it is still a very affordable Christmas present or collectible for your library.  You can bid on or bookmark the auction now by CLICKING HERE . There is also a place on the auction web page where you can spread the word and refer a friend to take a look as well.

Right now, Saving Shelter Pets has a litter of Lab mix Puppies that are hoping to enroll in the Puppy Promises program. They may not be yellow like Marley, but with the gregarious and goofy personality that labs have, someone out there may just be able to find their Marley, the dog that they feel a strong bond with, if they are able to be saved.

Their owner was intercepted when they made the decision to dump the pups at the county pound.  Most dogs don’t make it out alive, especially solid black colored Lab mixes that just don’t get noticed.  They will be given shots, quarantined outside of a shelter environment, while mom and the rest of the adult dogs at the house are spayed and neutered.  The pups will go on to a great life, as they will be transferred to a reputable rescue.

There is actually an auction item that covers the cost of sponsoring one puppy. You can bid now to help one of these darlings out. Opening bid is $20.  For $50, you can walk away having saved a puppy.  You will not actually get to take the pup home, but will have the satisfaction of knowing that you saved a life and also may have connected someone with their best friend in the whole wide world.

To learn more about SSP’s work and mission visit SavingShelterPets.com or read past articles and stories on HoundsGood.com by clicking HERE.

The Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., Spring Auction is underway.  There are some very desirable auctions in the catalog this time out that are worth a look.  An Eco Safari is one of the items up for bid.  You will experience Africa, from posh Durban with its Tudor architecture, to a jungle tour, to visiting a Zulu village.   One of your stops is also the Thula Thula Game Preserve.  The preserve is owned by Lawrence Anthony, who received notice for his rescue of animals from the Baghdad Zoo.

One hundred percent of the proceeds of most of the items go right to the organization.  The Eco Safari is the exception.  Valued at $7,200 per person, the first $4,000 will go to The Earth Organization, the tour company, and everything above and beyond goes to SSP.  When you bid, you are bidding for one person, and the winning bidder will purchase passage for the number of people they would like based on the winning bid per person.

At this time, the opening bid is at $4,200.00.   You will receive the trip for approximately 41% off the value, plus be contributing to assist in SSP’s Mission.  $200 will sponsor four Puppy Promises puppies.  Four lucky pups whose family has considered taking them to the shelter will be given a better deal.  They will receive age appropriate shots, quarantined for two weeks, and then taken to a reputable rescue where they will be adopted.  In addition, the mother dog and the rest of the adult dogs and cats in the house will be spayed and neutered by SSP to prevent additional accidental litters in the future.  Alternately, the $200 could save an adult dog already on death row.  It will provide them with the medical care, spay or neuter surgery, quarantine, and transportation to a rescue that they need.

When you bid on the trip, you will not only have an experience of a lifetime, but you will also save a life.  Or two or three or four.

To bid on the Eco Safari CLICK HERE.

The Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., fall auction is coming up, beginning October 12th. The auction will take place online. One of the donated items is a copy of Marley and Me. The book became instantly popular for its story of life “with the World’s Worst Dog.” This copy is hardcover and has been specially autographed by author John Grogan for the auction.  It would make a fabulous gift for someone this holiday season as well.

Bidding opens on October 12th. You can bookmark the auction now by CLICKING HERE  and saving it in your bookmarks.  There is also a place on the auction web page where you can spread the word and refer a friend to take a look as well.  Among the other items currently listed and being listed soon are original artwork, travel packages, books, pet items, and more.

Donations are still being accepted at this time.

To learn more about SSP’s work and mission visit SavingShelterPets.com or read past articles and stories on HoundsGood.com by clicking HERE.

Sorry, but I am just not feeling it.  I know that it is Fall, but I can’t smell it yet.   What I am talking about is the smell of the leaves on the ground.  What I am smelling is that it auction time once again and the collection has started for fantastic items for the Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. fall  auction. So, if you are an artist it is time to create. If you own a business, it is time to decide on the perfect item to represent your best foot. Oh, that didn’t come out right. I mean, it would be the time to put your best foot foward, not to donate your best foot because you probably would need that. Or as Space Ghost says, “If you have a hard time deciding which is your best foot…have them run a race.”

I digress. A wide range of items was in the auction last time from pet toy gift packs, to a cruise, to art work, to vintage items. SSP just asks that the dollar value of the item be $20 or higher. Many of the mid range items received the highest number of bids, although high ticket items did as well. If you want to donate your services to go up on the auction block, want to create something, or donate a purchased item please send an email to info @ savingshelterpets.com

Item collection is being started now, and you will be asked to send the item in so that there is ample to time to photograph, present it, and to promote the auction. A follow up will be posted by me with further information on exact auction date and item deadline. If you have any questions, please comment here or send an email to SSP at the address above.

This was a really fun way to raise money for many deserving pets, as well as to fund Spay and Neuter programs including a TNR program for cats, proactively intercept pups from the shelter, and to treat heartworm positive dogs who were saved.

The auction starts OCTOBER 12th, so please make contact now if you would like to donate.  On your mark, get set, bid!

Previously, I reported that artist Dean Russo was donating $5.00 from each of his Mixed Breed paintings in his Etsy store to Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. The details have been changed. Russo will now donate a percentage of everything in his Ebay store to SSP. He will now donate 10-15% of each sale, no matter what the subject matter is. If you are looking for an art piece of your favorite breed, or just like modern and contemporary art, visit his store today.  SSP has created a banner for the promotion, below, where you can click to travel to his store. Keep checking back for new additions.

Dean Russo is a very talented artist, and most of the time uses our best friends as a subject matter. I have seen his work evolve over the past few years and have been very impressed with how be captures the spirit of the different types of dogs while still creating something that is not your typical dog portrait. Russo has decided to donate $5.00 from the sale of every single one of his “war painted” mixed breed dog paintings to Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. The “grass roots feel” of the organization is what attracted him initially.  He has been a long time supporter of SSP, often participating in fundraisers, but now he has decided to do something on a permanent basis.

The offer only applies to mixed breed dogs, other wise known as Heinz 57s, but you can find other great dog paintings as well.  His Jimi Hendrix and cat paintings are equally fantastic.  Let’s support an artist who helps the animals.

Sally is a sweet hound with an even sweater demeanor. She is everything a good hound should be: friendly, sociable, and an all around great gal to have around. Unfortunately, Sally wound up in Murray County Animal Control in a rural part of Georgia. She has little hope of getting adopted because of the sheer number of large hounds that have been “lost” while hunting or were tiny pups who got “too big.” Thankfully, Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., has found a rescue that has homes waiting for nice girls like her.

Sally just needs a sponsor! Due to generous donations, it will only cost $100 to get Sally all the vetting she needs: Spay, shots, quarantining her, plus transporting her across the miles to a rescue that has just the spot for her. Right now, of the $100, $50 has been donated. All it takes is 10 people to donate $5 or 5 people to donate $10.  If you decide to donate, please consider indicating that your donation can go to another dog in need for rescue effort #72.  There are other dogs in need, but Sally caught my eye the most because hounds are euthanized just as often as PitBulls are in southern shelters.

You will not only be helping one dog, but saving others as well. Sally will be saved from a kill shelter, another dog still at the shelter can have a few extra days to find a home because there will be room, and because Sally is being spayed, there won’t be an unexpected or unwanted litter of pups in her future.  For more information about past SSP rescue efforts, CLICK HERE.

Saving Shelter Pets, Inc.’s August Etsy fundraiser is just around the corner. It starts August 16th and runs through August 26th.

They are seeking Etsy sellers to participate. Sellers should offer to contribute 20% shop wide. SSP typically promotes the participating sellers, so be prepared for more traffic! It is really a lot of fun for both buyers and sellers. I will be promoting items on HoundsGood.com as well from a few of the participating sellers to generate interest. I would appreciate every effort by readers to spread the word to sellers and buyers. Just check back on this blog if you want to pick up links with item photos as we get closer to the sale.

Saving Shelter Pets not only saves deserving pets from off the beaten path shelters where they have no hopes for adoption, they are also proactive in keeping pets out of the shelter through Spay and Neuter programs, and the Puppy Promises program. Puppy Promises intercepts litters of pups being dumped at shelters. The mother dog, and other adult pets at the house are also spayed and neutered to prevent future accidental pregnancies as well. For more information on the various rescue efforts and successes, CLICK HERE.

If you are interested in participating, please visit info @ savingshelterpets.com [remove spaces].

Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. is holding an August fundraiser.   They are looking for Etsy sellers to participate between August 16th and August 26th.  Sellers should offer to contribute 20% shop wide.   SSP typically promotes the participating sellers, so be prepared for more traffic!  It is really a lot of fun for both buyers and sellers.  I will be promoting items on HoundsGood.com as well from a few of the participating sellers to generate interest.  I would appreciate every effort by readers to spread the word to sellers and buyers.  Just check back on this blog if you want to pick up links with item photos as we get closer to the sale.

Saving Shelter Pets not only saves deserving pets from off the beaten path shelters where they have no hopes for adoption, they are also proactive in keeping pets out of the shelter through Spay and Neuter programs, and the Puppy Promises program.  Puppy Promises intercepts litters of pups being dumped at shelters.  The mother dog, and other adult pets at the house are also spayed and neutered to prevent future accidental pregnancies as well.  For more information on the various rescue efforts and successes, CLICK HERE.

If you are interested in participating, please visit  info @ savingshelterpets.com [remove spaces].